History

The stadium, which is located in Frisco, Texas, cost approximately $80 million, opened on August 6, 2005 with a match between FC Dallas and the MetroStars, which ended in a 2-2 draw. When first designed, the stadium's original seating capacity was 20,500 in a U-shaped design with one end of the stadium having a permanent stage for hosting concerts. Like many of the soccer-specific stadiums being built around the country, it is expected that the stadium will make a significant amount of revenue by hosting mid-sized concerts, as well as various other sporting events, such as high-school football games. The stadium includes 18 luxury suites as well as a private 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) stadium club.

The complex also has an additional 17 regulation size, stadium-quality soccer fields (both grass and artificial turf) outside the main stadium. These fields are for practice by FC Dallas, matches for the FC Dallas reserve squad, and for hosting youth soccer tournaments. Youth tournaments that have made use of the complex include Dallas Cup, Olympic Development Program National Championships, and the USYSA National Championships.

Stadium name

From 2005 until January 2012, the naming rights to the facility were held by national pizza chain Pizza Hut, which is headquartered in nearby Plano, and the stadium was known as Pizza Hut Park. During the time in between Pizza Hut's loss of and Toyota's acquisition of the naming rights, the facility was known as FC Dallas Stadium.[5]

Nicknames for Pizza Hut Park included PHP, the Hut, and The Oven, the latter referring to Texas' summer climate during afternoon games (and also because the field is well below ground level). On January 7, 2012, the contract linking the pizza franchise with the stadium expired and the site was renamed FC Dallas Stadium.[5]

On September 10, 2013, FC Dallas reached an agreement with Toyota to rename its home field Toyota Stadium, whose United States headquarters will be in nearby Plano, Texas. The 17 practice fields around the stadium would be known as Toyota Soccer Center.[6][7]

National Soccer Hall of Fame

On October 14, 2015, plans were announced that the stadium would be the new home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In addition to the museum, the stadium will receive a wide range of renovations as part of a $39 million proposal. Improvement to the stadium are to include 3,000-square-foot private club to serve about 1,800 members, premium chair-back seats to replace bleacher seating, new team store, a 7,000-square-foot deck with bar and concession stands, and additional upgrades to the video and audio equipment through the stadium.[8]

2015 FCS National Championship football game between North Dakota State and Jacksonville State at Toyota Stadium.

On August 5, 2010, a then-record crowd of 21,193 saw FC Dallas and Inter Milan, fresh off victory in the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final, play to a 2-2 exhibition tie.[12] On March 19, 2011, FC Dallas opened the 2011 season against the Chicago Fire with a 1-1 tie. The game was the team's first ever regular season sellout (20,145 spectators).[] On July 28, 2012, FC Dallas set a single-game attendance record of 22,565 when the visiting LA Galaxy defeated Dallas 1-0.[]